By focusing on the key ingredients in this beautifully light crab starter recipe, Claude Bosi really allows the sublime flavours of the sea to shine, pairing the delicate flavours of Devonshire crab with the freshness of sea herbs, the sharpness of Granny Smith apple and a subtle smokiness from the haddock. Check out our useful video for advice on removing the meat from a crab.

When ready to cook, remove the crab from the freezer and turn it over. Locate the v-shaped flap on the belly of the crab and drive a sharp knife or screwdriver inside – this will kill the crab

3

Cook the crab in boiling salted water for 12 minutes then cover with ice and leave to cool

1 crab, approximately 2 kilos

4

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4

5

Once cool, remove the brown crab meat and white crab meat separately and reserve in the fridge

6

To make the crab reduction for the bavarois, place the crab shells in a bag or kitchen cloth and break them up using a rolling pin

7

Transfer the broken pieces of shell to a tray and roast in the oven for around 30 minutes, until browned

8

In a large saucepan, sweat down the carrot, onion, celery and garlic, then add the tomato paste and the crab shells

9

Cover with water and simmer for 1 hour. After this time, strain the shells through a very fine sieve and reduce to a glaze consistency

10

To make the bavarois, dissolve the gelatine in 50g of the crab reduction by warming it slightly. Mix 200g of the brown crab meat with a little xanthan gum and blitz with a hand blender until smooth

xanthan gum

350g of whipping cream, soft peaks

2 bronze gelatine leaves

11

Add the blended brown meat to the reduction, then fold through the whipped cream. Transfer to a piping bag and set aside in the fridge until ready to serve

12

To make the consommé, begin by making a dashi stock. Place the water and kombu in a pan and cook at 65°C for 1 hour. After this time, increase the heat to 80°C and add the bonito. Pass the mixture through a fine sieve and leave to cool to room temperature

1l mineral water

1 sheet of kombu

12g of bonito flakes

13

Once the stock has cooled, blitz the haddock with the egg whites in a blender and mix with the stock

500g of smoked haddock

3 egg whites

14

Place over a medium heat, whisking from time to time until the egg rises to the top to create a raft

15

Cook until the broth is completely clarified and the raft is firm, then carefully ladle out the consommé. Season with 50g of dashi per litre of consommé and add 1 leaf of gelatine per 150ml of consommé. Leave to set in a tray, then transfer to a piping bag

50g of dashi

1 bronze gelatine leaf

16

To serve, pipe the bavarois into the bottom of a glass and add a layer of crab meat. Pipe the jelly on top and garnish with the sea vegetables, herbs and diced apple

1 Granny Smith apple, diced

apple blossom

bronze fennel

sea purslane

pennywort

salty finger leaf

Want more recipes like this delivered to your inbox?

Sign up to our newsletter now and we'll send you a hand-picked round-up of the best seasonal recipes and features from the best chefs each week.

Your information will only be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

Invalid email address

Thanks for subscribing

We'll only contact you around once per week with the best recipes and features. You can unsubscribe at any time.